Reflecting unit



Dec. 21, 1943. PATTQN 2,337,167

REFLECTING UNIT Filed Dec. 26, 1942 ENTOR FRANK PA from ria Z- ATTORNEY-Patented Dec. 21, 1943 REFLECTING UNIT Frank L. Patton, West Orange, N.1., assignor to Signal Service Corporation, a corporation of DelawareApplication December 26, 1942, Serial No. 470,201

3 Claims. (Cl. 88-78) This invention relates to the art ofautocollimating reflecting units and especially reflectors whichcomprise a number of individual reflecting elements integrally joined toform a composite reflecting area. Such reflectors are usually in theform of discs of glass or plastic material with the individualreflecting elements so closely associated that the effect is that of asingle large reflector.

In use the reflecting units are mounted in suitable supporting plates orstandards along a highway, for example, where they become luminous byreflection of the light projected by vehicle lamps, and serve as warningsignals to approaching motorists. Any moisture or, dirt on theindividual reflecting surfaces will decrease the reflecting power of thedisc and render it less effective as a signal by lessening the distancewithin which it is visible. Consequently it is necessary to hermeticallyseal the individual reflecting units from the atmosphere.

Heretofore this was done by mounting the discs in a cup-like metalholder in the manner shown and described in the patents to John C.Haggart, Jr., No. 2,255,748 and 2,286,085. This required the use ofconsiderable metal and special apparatus for assemblin the reflectordiscs in individual metal holders.

The object of my invention is to hermetically seal the individualreflecting elements from the atmosphere in a simple and eflicientmanner, without the use of metal or complicated special apparatus.

In carrying out my invention I form the reflector unit with a rearwardlyextending peripheral flange which provides a recess or chamber in therear of the unit into which the individual reflecting elements project.In this recess I position an insert or filler which is of such size asto substantially fill the recess with the outer surface of the insertbeing flush with the rear edge of the peripheral flange, and its innerface out of contact with the reflecting elements. This insert may bemade of any suitable material such as paper, fiber, wood or plastic. Ithen coat the entire rear surface of the unit as now assembled with asuitable sealing compound such as asphalt, tar, pitch, wax or any otherof a number of similar suitable substances. Any adhesive substance orcompound which will flow freely when hot, harden when cooled and isimpervious to varying weather conditions will suflice. It is appliedwhen in a molten state and flows into and fills the crevice between theinsert and the flange. When it cools and hardens it completely coversthe rear of the unit, presenting a smooth, unbroken surface, andeffectively seals the recess. Before the sealing compound has completelycooled and hardened I apply a protective backing of paper, Cellophane orsimilar thin flexible easily rupturable material. An individual backingmay be applied to each unit or if desired a number of units may beapplied to a long strip or to a sheet of backing material. Applying anumber of units to a single strip or sheet of backing material greatlyfacilitates the handling, counting and storage of the units.

I shall now describe in detail my improved reflector as illustrated inthe accompanying drawing and shall thereafter point out the invention inclaims.

Fig. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a reflector unitconstructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a plurality of units on a long strip ofbacking material.

The reflector I is a disc of plastic or other glass-likecomposition,'s1ightly meniscus in form, and is shown as having closelyassociated individual reflecting elements 2 in the form of trihedralprojections on its rear concave face, of the construction disclosed inStimson Patent No. 1,807,350. A peripheral flange 3 is formed integralwith and projects rearwardly from the disc I, and with the disc ideflnes a recess or chamber 4 into which the trihedral formations 2project. A circumferential extension 5 which is molded integral with theflange 2 at the rear edge thereof, facilitates the mounting of thereflector unit in a supporting plate or standard.

In insert 6 of any suitable inert material such as paper, cardboard,wood, fiber or plastic is placed within the recess 4. As shown in Fig. 1this insert is in the form of a flat disc which substantially fills therecess 4 and has its outer surface flush with the rear edge of theflange 2 and extension 5, and its inner face closely adjacent but out ofcontact with the trihedral reflecting elements. The insert or filler 6should preferably substantially fill the recess 4, as shown, for thesmaller the air space in the recess is, the less chance there is ofmoisture in the trapped air condensing on thereflector elements 2. Butthe filler must not be in contact with the reflector element for thatwould also decrease their efliciency in reflecting incident rays oflight. However, in carrying out my invention it is not essential thatthe insert 6 shall fill the recess 4 to the extent illustrated, but itmust substan tially close the open end of the recess and should have itsrear surface substantially flush with the rear edge of the flange 2 andextension 5. Also the disc shaped insert 6 need not fit tightly withinthe recess 4 as a slight space or crevice 1 between the periphery of theinsert 6 and the inner wall of the flange 2, as illustrated, is morebeneflcial than harmful.

The entire rear surface of the unit as now assembled is coated with asuitable sealing substance or compound 8 which also completely fills thespace or crevice 1. This sealing substance, as hereinbefore stated, maybe asphalt, tar, pitch, wax or any other adhesive substance or compoundwhich will flow freely when hot, harden when cold and is impervious tovarying weather conditions. It is applied to the rear surface of theunit when in a hot molten state and flows freely into and fllls thecrevice After it cools and hardens it securely bonds the periphery ofthe insert 6 to the inner wall of the flange 2 and hermetically sealsthe recess or chamber 4 and efiectively prevents any moisture or dirtfrom engaging the individual reflector elements 2.

After the sealing compound has cooled somewhat but is still in a stickyplastic condition I apply a protective backing 9 of paper, Cellophane orother similar thin flexible rupturable material. As stated previously,this backing may be applied individually to each reflector unit, or aplurality of units may be applied to a strip of backing material 9 asillustrated in Fig. 2, or to a sheet of backing material.

,It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theconstruction shown and described herein without departing from the scopeof the invention as pointed out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A reflecting unit comprising a reflecting disc having trihedralangular formations on its rear face forming a reflecting area and aperipheral flange surrounding the reflecting area and extendingrearwardly therefrom and forming a recess in the rear of the disc, 2.filler member occupying said recess with its inner face out of contactwith the reflecting area, and a sealing compound covering the outer faceof the filler member and filling the annular space between the fillermember and flange and hermetically sealing the recess.

2. A reflecting unit comprising a meniscus shaped reflecting disc havingtrihedral angular formations on its rear concave face forming areflecting area, a peripheral flange surrounding the reflecting area andextending rearwardly therefrom and forming a recess in the rear of thedisc, a flat disc shaped filler member occupying the recess with itsinner peripheral edge engaging the rear face of the disc in the cornerformed by its junction with the inner wall of the flange, and a sealingcompound covering the outer face of the filler member and filling theannular space between the filler member and flange and. hermeticallysealing the recess.

3. A reflecting unit comprising a reflecting disc having trihedralangular formations on its rear face forming a reflecting area and aperipheral flange surrounding the reflecting area and extendingrearwardly therefrom and forming a recess in the rear of the disc, afiller member occupying said recess with its inner face out of contactwith the reflecting area, an adhesive sealing compound covering theouter face of the filler member and the edge of the flangeandhermetically sealing the recess, and an easily rupturable coveringadhesively secured to the back of the unit by the sealing compound.

FRANK L. IEfATTON.

